by PJ Heath
Jimin, a member of the esteemed K-Pop group BTS, has released his first full-length solo album, “FACE.”
Composed of six songs, the album was released just shy of a week ago, and it sold one million copies in just 24 hours.
This album is without a doubt a breakthrough album for Jimin as a solo artist, and while it is short and sweet, it still gives listeners a peak into the psyche and core of Jimin as a person.
Every song is its own emotional roller coaster, touching on subjects such as anger, love, denial, numbness, anxiety, acceptance and motivation to grow. He sings powerful, passionate lyrics in both Korean and English.
Jimin’s uses the album to share his true self apart from his glamorous boy band member persona; fans get to see and hear Jimin in his authentic element, performing his own creative genius.
This album was written during the pandemic, a time of despair and isolation, and takes listeners on a journey of self-identity and purpose.
While discovering himself in this album, Jimin displays his vulnerability by acknowledging his struggles with isolation, grief, fear, self-doubt and mental illness.
“It contains my honest feelings that I felt during the pandemic,” Jimin said in an interview with Spotify. “Like the title, “FACE”, it tells the story of how I faced myself and finally stood at a new starting point.”
His mix of pop, hip hop, gospel, rap, synth and R&B make for a distinctive, quirky listen that is not only relatable, but appealing to nearly everyone.
Jimin’s use of profanity, raw vocals and brutally honest lyrics are a stark contrast from his typical sweet, “soft-boy” persona associated with the BTS group. Fans are seeing a darker, edgier and more diverse range of both genres and vocals from Jimin – and they love it.
In interviews prior to the album release, Jimin spoke about his desire to grow as an artist and push himself with the “FACE” album. Many fans feel that he has met that goal, using a variety of tones and styles across the tracks that both add new elements to his craft as an artist.
The “FACE” album is extremely successful and did not disappoint; it absolutely deserves a listen.
RATE 10/10
“This one is for you Ms. Arnold” – PJ Heath
